“I came to win” were his first words when he chose Auburn over other Elite colleges, and he meant it wholeheartedly. The 2024-25 season and NCAA tournament were clear indications of his capabilities, and boy, did he deliver. The youngest one from the ‘Three Musketeers’ of Auburn Tigers had been a lethal and damaging one in the big games. Yes, it’s Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn’s first man off the bench, causing havoc in opposition defenses.

Let it be a defensively strong Houston side or a high-octane Duke team, Tahaad never backed down. Rather, those were his highlight performances, which made him a fan favorite. Making the most of the opportunities and giving more than 100% to the side earned Tahaad massive respect from his teammates as well.

“He knows how to play basketball. He’s a hooper,” Tahaad’s teammate and instrumental guard Denver Jones said in an interview. “And I feel like that confidence is naturally instilled in him, just because of the hard work he’s put in over time.”

Averaging a solid 11.7 points as a freshman, his explosive gameplay raised many eyebrows. Many even wondered how he was not in the starting five. “I mean, Tahaad Pettiford has not started a game and has not said a word to any of his coaches. His family has not said a word, because he was raised right.” said Tigers’ HC Bruce Pearl. Tahaad’s family ties within Coach Pearl’s staff also proved a decisive factor for choosing Auburn – a star fell directly in the experienced Bruce Pearl’s hands. A solid chip to win his first NCAA title.

The team’s assistant coach, Ira Bowman, and Tahaad’s father have actually known each other. Coach Pearl revealed that Tahaad placed some specific trust in Ira when he joined, which helped him become more comfortable with the team. Check out details about Tahaad Pettiford’s parents, who impacted the Auburn guard’s game.

Who is Tahaad Pettiford’s father, Travis? Was he a professional basketball player?

Tahaad is the son of Travis Pettiford, who played as a forward for Montclair University from 1993 to 1996. Currently working as a Customer Service Representative at Choice Home Warranty, Tahaad’s father encouraged him to play basketball as early as a third-grader.

“It started, basically, just having a ball around the house and him taking heed to it,” Travis Pettiford told the Montgomery Advertiser. “I just kept teaching him how to do that over and over again; the basics, the fundamentals, just starting from the ground up. I can’t teach him the stuff that he knows right now.”

Also, Tahaad gave his father credit for his rare Ambidexterity in shooting. The guard earlier practised shooting with his right hand, but after learning he is left-handed, his father advised him to try more with his dominant hand.

At the age of 11, when Tahaad began playing at his age level in the sixth grade, Travis Pettiford saw his son’s potential and encouraged him. “You can see the difference of where he was going. And where the kids at that level were,” Travis Pettiford said. “It just began from there.”

Who is Tahaad Pettiford’s mother?

Tia Taylor Finch is Tahaad Pettiford’s mother. Details about her life remain private, but her influence shines through her son’s achievements and nature, who has come to be known for being ‘grounded’.

What is Tahaad Pettiford’s parents’ nationality?

Tahaad Pettiford’s parents, Tia Taylor Finch and Travis Pettiford, are American nationals. They were photographed with him, all proud when he signed the National Letter of Intent to commit to Auburn in 2023.

“He’s what every kid wants a dad to be,” the young talent says of his father. “Just being there in every situation, every game, helped a lot; always making sure I was in the gym, just making sure everything I needed for basketball, he’d make sure I got it.” 

Under their support and guidance, Tahaad starred for Hudson Catholic High School, Nike EYBL, McDonald’s All-American before he joined Bruce Pearl.